by Shara Azod
He didn’t like it, but it’s what he had decided to do.
He rapped twice on the door. A muffled sound came from the room and the door opened. He didn’t see Ebony. Harrison walked into the room and she closed the door behind him.
Turning, he looked at her. She looked…empty. Alarm threatened his emotions. Something wasn’t right. He’d never seen her look like this before.
“What’s wrong, Ebony?”
He put the items on the dresser and turned towards her. She was dressed in red lace-trimmed satin panties and nothing else. One arm was modestly over her breasts. In her hand was a half empty wine glass. She was as sexy as usual, and his body responded to the familiar need he always had for her, but the look in her eyes didn’t match the picture of sexiness she’d always exuded.
“Nothing. Let’s just get this done so I can go to sleep.”
She tossed back the rest of the wine and tried to move past him to the bed. He was about to stop her, but dropped his hand. Whatever was going on, it was not his place to intervene. She was a grown woman. He had to take a hands off approach.
“Okay, put this towel on the bed and lay on your stomach.”
She followed his instructions without reservation. Once she was lying on the bed her head turned towards the tall mirror artfully leaning against one wall. He moved towards the dresser and lit the candles, placing them in different areas of the room. It wasn’t the aromatic blend he used at home, but they would do. He was dressed in shorts which came to the knee and a T-shirt. He pulled the shirt over his head. Their eyes connected in the mirror.
“I don’t want to get this oil on my shirt,” he said, by way of explanation.
“Where does it hurt?”
She was quiet for a while. Then she cleared her throat.
“All over.”
It was a just a whisper and he saw one tear slide from the corner of her eye, roll across the bridge of her nose where it landed on the bed. Lord, what the fuck was wrong with her? The need to ask was overwhelming, but he wasn’t sure he really wanted to know. He was always the one pursuing her. He would not get involved this time.
Taking some of the peppermint-scented cream from the jar, he rubbed his hands and started massaging her upper body. Her skin was so beautiful. How had he never done this before? He smoothed the cream on and massaged her shoulders. There was definitely tension there. She groaned as he hit a particularly sensitive area.
“Just focus on your breathing while I work on this knot in your shoulder.”
He continued rubbing her skin. He was working down her back when she spoke.
“I told Corrine everything.”
Harrison stopped and looked at her in the mirror. That explained a few things.
“Everything.”
“Yes. She hates me and thinks I’m some sort of sexual deviant.”
More tears ran unchecked and she turn her head into the bed. Her shoulders began to shake as she wept into the bed linen.
His gut twisted. He hadn’t wanted this.
Or had he?
Yes, he’d wanted the truth to come out, but not so that it could destroy her. He wanted it to empower her. How could she be her authentic self if she was ashamed to own up to who she was?
He rubbed her back soothingly and murmured words of love to her while planting kisses on her shoulders. At the end of the day, he loved her and the pain she felt tied him up in knots.
“Sweetheart, don’t cry; let me help you. Can I help you tonight?”
She nodded jerkily.
He stood and wiped the peppermint cream from his hands, then went to retrieve the oil from the dresser. Warming it over one of the candles, he placed it on the nightstand before turning to remove the delicate crimson panties she wore. Harrison slid them down her legs with ease before discarding them.
Her sobbing had stopped and she lay on the bed, allowing him to touch her. Taking the bottle of oil and starting from her calves, he drizzled the oil all over her body paying particular attention to the crease of her ass and the swollen lips of her vulva, which could be seen between her slightly parted legs. If he had a camera, it would have been the type of photo he’d place in a vault for his eyes only. As it was, he committed the picture to memory. He began to work, starting with her legs. He kneaded and rubbed them, placing kisses as he went. The back of her thighs and her buttocks were also massaged, and even though she raised her hips to give him access, he didn’t touch her where she wanted to be touched.
“Harrison…”
“Shhhh. Trust me, Ebony. Let go,” he whispered in her ear as he reached her shoulders and started back down again.
“I don’t know how,” she said with weak frustration.
“Just let go. I promise I’ll catch you.”
After several passes, she was emitting low moans and whimpering his name. He still would not touch her yet. She wasn’t ready. Instinctively he knew that what she needed was comfort and even though his cock was painfully hard, he knew that she didn’t need him; not in that way, not tonight.
He massaged one arm, then all the way down to her hand where he couldn’t help but kiss and suck each finger before finishing with a kiss in her palm. She sighed and went limp, accepting his touch without condition, not rushing him into making her come. It was just a pure and true connection. His hands, her flesh, his soul with hers, she yielding to him, and him guiding her to the bliss she needed.
With infinite care, he rubbed her clit. He continued to rub as he leaned over to kiss the shiny globes of her butt cheeks. She whimpered and shuddered under his tender ministrations. He nipped one butt cheek and watched the mark turn red under her deep skin tone. He removed his fingers from her clit and used two to enter her deeply.
“Harrison…” His name was murmured in surrender.
He kissed, licked, and nibbled up her spine to the nape of her neck, all the while pumping his fingers within the confines of her body. She was close. He could tell from her labored breath that her release was just around the corner. She strained for it. Pushed for it. And he would give it to her, but not yet.
Harrison removed his fingers.
“No, please,” she gasped and grabbed his wrist. Her eyes met his and he could see raw need within them.
“Shhhh, beautiful, turn over. I want you looking at me when I make you come.”
He helped her roll onto her back. She was so exquisitely beautiful, it took his breath away. Her locs were spread around her head like a dark crown. He admired her from head to toe. Dark nipples with large areolas stood taut, inviting his lips, and he kissed each one.
Ebony spread her legs for him and he leaned up and kissed her mouth while entering her again with his fingers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kept him close as he worked her body. He tasted the sweet wine on her lips and tongue and heard her moan into his mouth when he hit a particularly sensitive spot. He hit that spot again and again and again, pumping his fingers quick and deep.
“Harrison, Harrison…”
“That’s it, beautiful, let go.” He pulled away from her and really looked into her eyes as she jerked and came hard. Her mouth opened on a silent scream. He continued to pump his fingers until she lay limp. He picked her up into his arms and pulled the covers back before laying her down again. Then he went about straightening the room, blowing out the candles. When all that was left was the lamp, he went and stood over her.
“Goodnight, beautiful.” He kissed her forehead and stood.
“What? But what about you?”
“I’m good.” He shrugged.
“Harrison, I’m sorry I didn’t tell my sister sooner.”
“It’s okay, you told her. No matter how she feels about your life and the choices you make, you need to be proud of who you are. You’re a beautiful person, Ebony.”
He kissed her again, this time on the lips.
“Get some sleep.”
He moved away from the bed and turned to leave.
“Harrison. I love yo
u.”
Chapter Six
“Harrison, I love you.”
Those four simple words hadn’t been so hard to say after all. In fact, they felt right.
“What did you say?”
“I love you. You were right. I’ve been fighting who I am because deep down inside, I wanted to be the sweet, little girl my family knew me to be.”
“Don’t you see, you are sweet, but you’re also grown and complex and you like sex? So what? You know what I really love about you?”
She shook her head.
“I love how comfortable you are with your body and your sexuality. I love that you’re not afraid to try new things. You have something that most women don’t have, and it makes you rare and beautiful. You have an awareness of who you are. You just need to have that awareness with your family. You’re not a little girl anymore. They know that.”
“I know,” she said.
She didn’t know what he was thinking. Did he even still want to be with her? She’d told him that she loved him and he hadn’t said it back. In fact, he was still standing near the door. Was he going to walk away from her still? She looked at the clock, it read 12:05.
It was Christmas.
She pulled back the covers, exposing her body as she got up and started walking towards him.
“When we were in Atlanta, you asked me to tell you my answer on Christmas Day. It’s officially Christmas.”
Harrison looked at the clock on the nightstand.
“It looks like it is.”
“Does the offer still stand?”
“Do you want it to?” He reached out and palmed her face, brushing her bottom lip with his thumb.
“More than anything.”
She put her hands on his chest, absently pulling the obsidian-colored hairs there. She loved how dark and swarthy he was.
“Then tell me your answer.”
“Ye—”
He didn’t let her finish before he kissed her senseless. It was a different kiss from the other ones they’d had. This kiss was soft and sweet, with just the right amount of raw passion.
Just like her.
Epilogue
“Are those all of the gifts?” Diane asked.
The living room of the cabin looked like a Christmas wrapping bomb had gone off. Clothes, toys, games, and children’s furniture lay to one side while the twins laid in their parents arms, tired from all of the gifts they’d gotten.
“There’s just one more.” Harrison said.
Ebony looked at him curiously along with everyone else in the room.
He got up and faced everyone. What was he doing? He looked handsome in a gray T-shirt and jeans. His black hair was combed back and he sported a tiny goatee.
They hadn’t gotten too much sleep last night. It was a wonder either of them were up at all.
“I have a confession to make.”
Ebony sat up straight in her arm chair. What was going on?
“A little over a year ago, during your wedding weekend, I met a beautiful woman and we clicked. Her name was Ebony Baxter.”
Ebony’s mouth fell open as everyone in the room turned to look at her.
“Not really knowing where things were headed, we kept our courtship a secret from everyone. For that, we apologize.”
Well, that’s one way of telling everyone about them. She would have rather had individual conversations, preferably after Christmas, but he’d worded things well.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a few months, but it took somebody a while to tie up some loose ends.” He came towards her.
Ebony’s heart leapt into her throat as Harrison took something out of his pocket and knelt down before her.
“Harrison.”
His name was all she could get out before tears flooded her eyes.
“Ebony, I know I’ve asked you to trust me to love you. Can I ask you to go a bit further and trust me to be a good husband to you?”
He opened the ring box. She nodded without hesitation, and kissed him. Then she hugged him. All around there were ohhhs and ahhhs.
“Well, put the ring on her, son,” she heard his grandfather say.
Harrison pulled away and showed her a beautiful sapphire and diamond wedding ring. It looked antique and familiar.
“It’s my grandmother’s.”
Ebony looked at his grandmother, who was bursting with pride as he slid the ring on her finger. It fit, snug and comfortable as if it had been made for her. One by one, they came to congratulate them.
Her parents were first.
“When he asked me for your hand in marriage this morning, I thought it was a joke, but when I realized it wasn’t, I knew I had to say yes. I think you’ve got yourself a good guy here, Ebony.”
“Thank you, sir,” Harrison said, shaking her dad’s hand.
“My baby’s getting married,” her mother exclaimed, giving her a big hug. “How dare you keep this from me? I should beat you.”
“Sorry, Mom. It took me a while to see what I had.”
“Well, I’m glad you finally saw.”
The rest of the family hugged and congratulated them. Corrine was the last. Ebony really wasn’t too sure how this was going to go after their chat last night.
“Congratulations, looks like things worked out for the best.” Corrine said, reaching out to hug her.
Ebony noticed that the smile her sister wore didn’t really touch her eyes as it had before. For a brief moment she felt a bit of sadness.
Noticing everyone was looking at them, she smiled and accepted the hug. She was about to pull away but Corrine’s arms held her in that embrace.
“Just give me a minute to get used to things okay, Ebony. I can’t say I like everything you told me, but I love you. It’s just going to take some time. Okay”
Ebony nodded and shed a tear. She wanted her sister to be happy for her but she knew Corrine wasn’t the type to forgive and forget easily. She would eventually come around but she would do so in her own time and in her own way. And that would have to be okay for now.
“Thanks, Corrine. I know it will take you some time, but I hope it won’t take you too long. You have to be my matron of honor, you know.”
Ebony pulled back and smiled. Harrison came up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist.
“Congratulations Harrison. I’m happy for you both,” Corrine said, smiling at them as her husband came and hugged and kissed her on the cheek. Then he hugged Harrison, teasing him about the lure of Baxter women.
After a while the attention turned back to the twins and the hustle to have a large Christmas breakfast. Ebony stood underneath a spring of mistletoe and crooked her finger at Harrison enticingly as she waggled her brow. He handed a sleeping baby to his mother and swaggered towards her.
“What does a newly engaged lady have to do to get a kiss around here?”
“All you have to do is pucker up.”
Ebony turned her face up to meet his. Harrison wrapped his arms around her waist and bent his head to kiss her. It wasn’t overtly sexual, but it had a hell of a lot of promise; promises she fully intended on see that he kept later on that night. He pulled back just a bit.
“So, Christmas in Canada next year?” he murmured.
“Hmm, let’s get this one under our belts first.”
“We can have hot train-car sex. Going and coming,” he whispered, for her ears only.
Ebony smiled.
“Christmas in Canada it is!”
The End
About the Author
Gynger Fyer (pronounced Ginger Fire) prides herself on writing stories as unique, spicy and fiery as her name. An avid reader and fan of romance and erotic fiction, she now has the pleasure of writing entertaining stories about love, romance, and relationships. She loves to explore the endless possibilities and outcomes of her characters meeting and falling in love. For her, it all starts with one question..."WHAT IF?"
We hope you’ve enjoyed Christmas in Canada. If you�
�d like to read more from Gynger Fyer, check out her webpage: www.gyngerfyer.com
The Twelve Craze of Christmas
by
Jeanie Johnson and Jayha Leigh
Dedication
To all of Scrooges out there, and all of the people who keep singing, and swinging, and getting merry.
Chapter One: Bell in a Handbasket
Rennes Sabine didn’t bother to hide his appreciation of the shapely woman giving the presentation. There was no need to, especially when she didn’t bother to hide her own interest in him. He appreciated boldness in a woman…and a great rack.
Of course, her rack was enhanced by a healthy dose of silicone, unlike Cayenne’s who had the kind of breasts poets wrote sonnets about. He mentally kicked himself for letting his mind wander to thoughts of the one woman he’d vowed never to have those kinds of thoughts about. Cayenne Creighton was his Kryptonite™. And if he fucked with his sister’s best friend, Revelry had made it clear that Cayenne would be the reason for his untimely death. He smiled. If he ever crossed Cayenne, Revelry wouldn’t have anything left of him to kill. It was a toss-up who was crazier—his sister or Cayenne.
With great reluctance, he forced himself to think about something other than the delicious Cayenne, and all of the hot and dirty things he could do with her. Despite his determination to find another subject to ponder, his cock hadn’t cosigned on the decision. It was standing at full attention. It was a good thing there was a woman in the room. He could always blame his erection on the presenter. She was good to look at…if you liked women whose weight barely reached into triple digits.
The former Miss One-of-those-Scandinavian-Countries wasn’t just a pretty face; she was her very own Q Division™, minus the British accent. He didn’t even have to have a visual on his best friend and business colleague, Merc Stevshark, to know that they would be writing a hefty check today. It wouldn’t matter if they didn’t need the electronics the Icelandic female version of “Q” was selling; Merc would want them. The former Navy Seal had never met a gadget he didn’t covet. It was similar to the way Rennes coveted Cayenne…not that he was going to think about that, especially when he’d spent the last fourteen years purposely not thinking about it.